WELLINGTON: Heavy downpours bring flood threat to New Zealand. Heavy shower has caused slips, rising rivers and road closures in the North Island.
Whereas Whanganui and Rangitikei councils declared local states of emergency on Tuesday evening as the remnants of deadly Cyclone Debbie hit New Zealand. People in flood-prone areas were told to be ready to leave early this morning but as the rain paused, evacuations along the river in Whanganui were delayed.
There was a lucky escape in Waikato this morning as occupants of a car sinking in flood water in Whatawhata, near Hamilton, managed to get out. Two large landslips triggered evacuations in Auckland. Met service says more rain is expected as another cloud mass in the Tasman Sea moves over the country.
Heavy rain is expected from Northland to Whanganui, including Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, the Central North Island high country, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and the Kaikōura Coast.
